In the UK there are an estimated 3 and a half million people of all ages living with chronic kidney disease, with many millions at risk of developing the condition. The National Kidney Federation is committed to supporting patients and raising awareness of kidney disease and its treatments to improve lives.

To continue this work, the National Kidney Federation have partnered with ITN Business to produce ‘Understanding Kidney Health’, a news-style programme featuring stories of patients and highlighting the vital work being done by the National Kidney Federation, clinicians and the loved ones who care for them.

Anchored by Sharon Thomas, the first instalment of this series takes a deeper dive into the work being done by organisations and individuals in the industry to raise awareness of kidney disease, and improve detection, treatment and outcomes.

Hosted on National Kidney Federation’s website, the programme also features interviews with thought leaders alongside reporter-led sponsored editorial profiles:  

• Head of Marketing and Fundraising at the National Kidney Federation, Pete Revell explains the vital work being done by the charity, their campaign work and the valuable support that the NKF offers kidney patients and their families.
• Kirit Modi MBE, Honorary President of the National Kidney Federation discusses the impact of COVID-19 on organ donation and transplantation in the UK, how the nation can recover from this, and the barriers to donating organs among ethnic minority communities.
• An exclusive feature, highlighting how CKD can impact young lives and the benefit of home dialysis for both the patient and their family.
• Maddy Warren, a familiar face in the kidney community, who has inspired many people living with kidney disease, spoke to Sharon Thomas about her journey and how home dialysis has changed her life.
• GSK – explain their work with patient groups to better understand the challenges faced by those living with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Andrea Brown, Chief Executive of NKF, said: It has been a pleasure to have worked with ITN and others in the renal community to highlight the importance of kidney health and chronic kidney disease. We hope that this film is a step towards raising more awareness that kidney disease can affect anyone at any age and what the implications of being a kidney patient can bring to a person’s life. We are looking forward to showcasing this film at our Parliamentary Reception event on the 8th of March and launching it on 9^th March, World Kidney Day.

Nina Harrison-Bell, Head of ITN Business, said: “With so many already affected by chronic kidney disease and many more at risk of developing the condition, our two-part series aims to provide a platform to raise awareness of the symptoms people need to be aware of, and to celebrate the tireless work being done by those in the renal world to provide greater choice and improved quality of life for those with CKD.

‘Understanding Kidney Health’ premieres on 8th March 2023 at The National Kidney Federation Parliamentary Reception event, followed by the official launch to mark World Kidney Day featuring news items, interviews and sponsored editorial profiles. The National Kidney Federation will support the programme with an extensive campaign targeting their membership and community, the programme will be available to view on: https://www.kidney.org.uk/understanding-kidney-health-with-itn

For more information, please contact Nina Harrison-Bell on [email protected].